going hourly rates for watching infants--please help!

when my daughter is 7 1/2 weeks ill be going back to school, but only part time. a mommy friend of mine is going to be watching her. it will be about 2 1/2 hrs a day, 4 days a week. what is a good amount to pay her, either hourly or weekly?? i want to be completely fair, not over or under pay. its just a little awkward because seh's a friend and i dont think either of us know how to negotiate a fair price with each other, and this being my first i have no idea what is acceptable. any input would be great appreciated, thanks!!

when my daughter is 7 1/2 weeks ill be going back to school, but only part time. a mommy friend of mine is going to be watching her. it will be about 2 1/2 hrs a day, 4 days a week. what is a good amount to pay her, either hourly or weekly?? i want to be completely fair, not over or under pay. its just a little awkward because seh's a friend and i dont think either of us know how to negotiate a fair price with each other, and this being my first i have no idea what is acceptable. any input would be great appreciated, thanks!!

I would ask your friend what she thinks is fair, and then if she says she doesn't know because I'm sure as a friend she won't want to ask for more than you might want to pay...then I would start the offer at $80 a week. Â That's $8 an hour but that's only a couple diaper changes at most and a bottle....I think that would be a good *starting* point. Â Plus, I doubt she's reporting it so it's tax free money.

As a friend and not a professional child caregiver (i.e. nanny) I would ask for that (but I also live in AZ where things aren't exorbitantly priced).

I would ask your friend what she thinks is fair, and then if she says she doesn't know because I'm sure as a friend she won't want to ask for more than you might want to pay...then I would start the offer at $80 a week. Â That's $8 an hour but that's only a couple diaper changes at most and a bottle....I think that would be a good *starting* point. Â Plus, I doubt she's reporting it so it's tax free money.

As a friend and not a professional child caregiver (i.e. nanny) I would ask for that (but I also live in AZ where things aren't exorbitantly priced).

I agree with the pp $80 is a good starting point, especially if it's under 3hrs a day that she's caring for her, also if your baby is a sleeper she may not have to change her but one time or even have to feed her if you do before leaving the house, she's basically just making sure she is okay. Babies aren't much effort for that little amount of time

I agree with the pp $80 is a good starting point, especially if it's under 3hrs a day that she's caring for her, also if your baby is a sleeper she may not have to change her but one time or even have to feed her if you do before leaving the house, she's basically just making sure she is okay. Babies aren't much effort for that little amount of time

We take our older daughter to a friend who does daycare from her home we paid 3/hour when she was an infant starting at 3 months and mow 3.50/hour because she raised her price. She is there about 6 hours a day so on average we pay $21.00 per day. In November when she starts taking our new one too it'll double!

We take our older daughter to a friend who does daycare from her home we paid 3/hour when she was an infant starting at 3 months and mow 3.50/hour because she raised her price. She is there about 6 hours a day so on average we pay $21.00 per day. In November when she starts taking our new one too it'll double!

thanks for the responses! the ladies who said $8/hr, is that from experience or more of a gestimate? from people ive already talked to they've said more in the 3-4 dollar range for one infant an hour...but i wasnt sure if this was right or not. hm...now im more confused because i was thinking quite a bit lower!

thanks for the responses! the ladies who said $8/hr, is that from experience or more of a gestimate? from people ive already talked to they've said more in the 3-4 dollar range for one infant an hour...but i wasnt sure if this was right or not. hm...now im more confused because i was thinking quite a bit lower!

In Australia home daycare is $3.20 per hour per child, my DDs nana runs one from her home so I use her. I don't know what the conversion rate is tho to $US but I think it's fair. Anyway if it's ur friend she might just give u a flat rate per week, but I would ask her what she thinks is fair as a pp said :)

In Australia home daycare is $3.20 per hour per child, my DDs nana runs one from her home so I use her. I don't know what the conversion rate is tho to $US but I think it's fair. Anyway if it's ur friend she might just give u a flat rate per week, but I would ask her what she thinks is fair as a pp said :)

I would say $8 an hour is fair. The price of $3-$4 an hour is for people who have daycare centers or home set ups where they watch multiple children and thus get more money overall an hour. I would personally rather over pay anyone watching my precious baby. I would also make sure they know infant child CPR. I always like to show my appreciation for our sitter by bringing her flowers, or some nice soap, or sharing some garden extras once a week. That way they feel appreciated for the job they are doing and are more likely to help you out when you are in a bind.

I would say $8 an hour is fair. The price of $3-$4 an hour is for people who have daycare centers or home set ups where they watch multiple children and thus get more money overall an hour. I would personally rather over pay anyone watching my precious baby. I would also make sure they know infant child CPR. I always like to show my appreciation for our sitter by bringing her flowers, or some nice soap, or sharing some garden extras once a week. That way they feel appreciated for the job they are doing and are more likely to help you out when you are in a bind.

I agree that $3-4/hr/child is a fair rate for watching multiple children, but for 1 child, I think $8-10/hr is much more appropriate. Your friend should be able to count on at least minimum wage for watching your baby, don't you think?

My dog sitter gets $20/hour, just as a basis of comparison.

I agree that $3-4/hr/child is a fair rate for watching multiple children, but for 1 child, I think $8-10/hr is much more appropriate. Your friend should be able to count on at least minimum wage for watching your baby, don't you think?

I watched my neighbors newborn one day a week and she paid me $35/day. I had her for 8 hours at a time. Figures out to be about $4/hour. I understand some people think that should be higher, but what happens when the mom is only making $10-$12/hour to begin with. It must be worth it for the mother to return to work. Otherwise, she is working only to pay the sitter. I'm very good friends with my neighbor, so I was glad to help her out. It's very hard to find someone you trust to leave your child with, so I hope it works out with your friend!

I watched my neighbors newborn one day a week and she paid me $35/day. I had her for 8 hours at a time. Figures out to be about $4/hour. I understand some people think that should be higher, but what happens when the mom is only making $10-$12/hour to begin with. It must be worth it for the mother to return to work. Otherwise, she is working only to pay the sitter. I'm very good friends with my neighbor, so I was glad to help her out. It's very hard to find someone you trust to leave your child with, so I hope it works out with your friend!

IMO, I think 3-4$ an hr is appropriate, exspecially if it is a friend at home and they are already going to be at home anyways. You have to think, They are not registered or anything of that sort, which is what you are paying more for at child care centers. The liability is different and like someone else said, they are not being taxed. Basically you are just trying to help each other out, that is the way I see it anyways. This is just my opinion, I was in the same position and my friend asked me to pay $75 for 2 days a week... Which seemed like a lil more than I thought since weekly at many daycares are $150 a week or so for infants...But I am willing to pay it since I know my baby will be taken care of.

IMO, I think 3-4$ an hr is appropriate, exspecially if it is a friend at home and they are already going to be at home anyways. You have to think, They are not registered or anything of that sort, which is what you are paying more for at child care centers. The liability is different and like someone else said, they are not being taxed. Basically you are just trying to help each other out, that is the way I see it anyways. This is just my opinion, I was in the same position and my friend asked me to pay $75 for 2 days a week... Which seemed like a lil more than I thought since weekly at many daycares are $150 a week or so for infants...But I am willing to pay it since I know my baby will be taken care of.

In 2002 I got paid $10 an hour in NC but I was doing it 8 hrs a day 5 days a week. I would say $8 would be fair. NC has a horribly low minimum wage and I would say you would definitely want to always pay more than that.

In 2002 I got paid $10 an hour in NC but I was doing it 8 hrs a day 5 days a week. I would say $8 would be fair. NC has a horribly low minimum wage and I would say you would definitely want to always pay more than that.

thanks for all the input! its given me a lot to think about. im still just not sure i guess, im getting conflicting ideas not only from you ladies but from others as well (friends, co-workers, family). no one seems to agree! her and i have tried to discuss it but she just says "i dont know, whatever you think"...its like well, it has to be what you think, too! youre getting paid to do a job! id ont want her resenting me if i offer too little you know? its not even about being cheap, its about being reasonable and fair. i dont want to over or underpay, i want to pay what anyone in her position would get paid. under the table, not registered or anything, and only one infant, which could raise the price as PP's have said. i wish it wasnt so awkward for us to discuss, we are both adults, but i just dont want to suggest something completely off base (high or low) because the suggestions everyone is giving are way different, just like the suggestions i'm getting on here. 3-4 dollars/hr to 8-10 dollars/hr are quite a big difference! oh well i will figure it out! i guess her and i just have to suck it up and talk money! lol

thanks for all the input! its given me a lot to think about. im still just not sure i guess, im getting conflicting ideas not only from you ladies but from others as well (friends, co-workers, family). no one seems to agree! her and i have tried to discuss it but she just says "i dont know, whatever you think"...its like well, it has to be what you think, too! youre getting paid to do a job! id ont want her resenting me if i offer too little you know? its not even about being cheap, its about being reasonable and fair. i dont want to over or underpay, i want to pay what anyone in her position would get paid. under the table, not registered or anything, and only one infant, which could raise the price as PP's have said. i wish it wasnt so awkward for us to discuss, we are both adults, but i just dont want to suggest something completely off base (high or low) because the suggestions everyone is giving are way different, just like the suggestions i'm getting on here. 3-4 dollars/hr to 8-10 dollars/hr are quite a big difference! oh well i will figure it out! i guess her and i just have to suck it up and talk money! lol

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